Vehicles can be used on Halloween, by Prescott Daze parade personnel and for plowing snow

By John McLoone

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council on Monday night approved a change to a city ordinance stipulating specific instances when Utility Terrain Vehicles can be operated on city streets.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Rob Daugherty asked that the matter be looked into because of the number of UTVs he was seeing operating in the city.

The new ordinance will allow UTV (also re – ferred to as "side by sides") to operate in the city on Halloween and during Prescott Daze by parade personnel only.

Snow can be plowed with them also if the vehicle has flashing yellow lights activated that are visible from all sides of the vehicle.

If the UTV is used on Halloween, trailers can be pulled, but the vehicle speed must be 5 mph or less. Passengers must be seated while the vehicle is in motion, and no alcoholic bev – erages are allowed onboard. Lights must be on while in operation.

The change is to the golf cart registration or – dinance, where UTV use was not allowed in the city at all.

The city council's ordinance committee recommended the change for approval, and it passed the council unanimously. The ordi – nance committee also will take another look at the golf cart ordinance and use of golf carts on city streets. At the same meeting Daugherty brought the matter up, City Clerk Jayne Brand commented that there are significantly more golf carts being operated on city streets than the couple dozen that have purchased necessary registration for the vehicle.

Committee Chair Darlyn Hintz comment – ed, "As far as golf cart registration, we will be discussing this and golf cart issues at the next meeting." The matter was passed on a first reading. Typically, ordinances go through separate read –

ings and review at three straight council meet – ings. However, because this one impacts use at Prescott Daze, it was passed on a single read – ing. Prescott Daze is scheduled for Sept. 9-11.

The council also passed a new ordinance on a single reading that clearly defines where annual passes for boat trailers should be dis – played.

Annual passes must be displayed on the boat trailer. Daily passes must be displayed face up, with the time and date visible in the vehicle windshield.

Coulee River Trails items

Acting on a recommendation from the coun –

cil's Parks Committee, the council unanimous – ly approved a memorandum of understanding with the Coulee River Trails Steering Commit – tee.

The CRT is under the umbrella of Friends of Freedom Park and is working to develop a trail system through Prescott and the Town of Oak Grove.

The memorandum stipulates that trails built on city property are owned by the city. The city also needs to review and approve trail designs and materials purchased. It also designates terms for volunteers of CRT to sign insurance waivers holding the city harmless with Friends of Freedom Park providing insurance coverage for volunteers. The CRT Steering Committee must get city approval before going for funding assistance in development, maintenance design or marketing of trails on Prescott-owned land.

The council also approved development of a mountain bike skills course at Magee Park by the CRT Steering Committee. The skills course will be similar to one located in River Falls within its mountain bike park.

The skills course is meant for youth learning the sport and contains various obstacles.

CRT volunteers will build the course.

Committee consolidation

The council held a brief discussion on an idea to consolidate some committees. City Ad – ministrator Matt Wolf said that many items end up going before more than one committee. A topic could start in the Parks and Public Prop – erty Committee and then may need to be sent to the Ordinance Committee. He said that the Ordinance Committee could be not used, and items would be referred directly to the city council.

He mentioned also that the Parks and Public Property and Public Works committees could be consolidated.

"Just for evciency in general, it makes a lot of sense. I thought it was a great recommenda – tion," said Alderperson Bailey Ruona.

Alderperson Maureen Otwell questioned combining two busy committees like Parks and Public Property and Public Works.

"I think it makes a lot of o sense, except they both have big agendas," she said. "They're both so active." "We'll have longer meetings for sure," Ruo –

na said. "I'd like to have just one meeting, rath –

er than hash it out at both." The restructure would make city govern –

ment leaner.

"An added bonus to all of us if we can ex –

press to the community we've lessened govern – ment," said Alderperson Pat Knox.

Alderperson Thomas Oss commented, "One of the problems with this is you can perhaps eliminate some of the time for the public to re – act to sensitive situations by streamlining the bureaucratic process to the point that decisions are made very rapidly at one meeting and not two. That's the one danger I see in this propos –

al." Ruona said that when items lead to an or – dinance change, there would typically be three readings.

Dougherty asked that the matter be put on a future work session agenda.

"We can sit and think about it a bit and bring any thoughts or discussion to that," he said.